Bitcoin Forum

If I gave a name for  my wallet (wallet  1) , the file store on my computer 1 , what is the purpose of that file? , if I want to restore the (wallet 1) on another computer2, I made creat new wallet and have already the seed phrase and give it another name say(wallet 2) and there will be file stored on computer2 (wallet 2) and it have all hostrical transaction  that I made on wallet 1 computer 1? I am right or not

That file contains your private keys. To restore your wallet you can either:

1. Move that wallet file to the new computer (you'll need a password if it's encrypted).
2. Or, simply use the seed phrase you already have by following this: https://bitcoinelectrum.com/restoring-your-standard-wallet-from-seed/

In both cases, your transaction history should show.

It's a tad bit difficult to follow your question... But if i interpreted it correctly then: yes, you only need the seed phrase to restore your wallet or you can move the wallet file. When it comes to being able to spend your unspent outputs, both methods yield the same result.

The wallet file potentially contains meta-data (like labels), if you move the wallet file from computer 1 to computer 2, you also get to keep the meta-data on computer 2, if you use the seed phrase to restore your wallet on computer 2, you lose information like labels (unless you use a plugin to synchronise the meta-data)

If you have computer 1 and you name your wallet on it as wallet 1. Then you import the seed phrase on another computer, you can name it any name that you want. So you can name it wallet 2 on computer 2. Your transaction history are on blockchain and it would be the same on the wallet 1 on computer 1 and wallet 2 on computer 2 as your keys and addresses synchronized with the blockchain.

If you have your seed phrase of the wallet one from the computer fully backed up and you were able to restor it in your computer 2, the name you give to the wallet does not really matter; what matters is the data that it contains therein.
 
The data backup in your computer device, which is named wallet 1 in your computer, always helps you increase your chance of recovering your wallet if you mistakenly forget your access to the wallet. With that file data backup in your computer, you can increase your chance of recovery.
 
The most important thing is that you have your seed phrase safe and sound, so you can import it into a new wallet and device as many times as you want without the need for the older device.

You can not memorize seed phrase, you back it up, like on a paper or stainless steel sheet in two or three locations. If you forget access to a wallet in this regard will be if the wallet is encrypted. Maybe if less strong not recommended password is used, the password can easily be brute forced. With a strong encryption password which is recommended, the wallet may not be recovered. The main advantage of wallet file is that it keeps information that the blockchain do not contain, aside that, it is better to rely more on seed phrase backup.

Yea, I get your point, and I totally agree with it. I happened to fine myself in situations where I installed a window wallet (not a popular wallet). It was a wallet that was meant for a particular altcoin, which I lost where I saved the seed phrase to the wallet, but I happened to save the wallet data after I used it to perform a few transactions. When I needed to move the left funds in there, I just pulled the hard disc from the old device. Since the system was already bad, I moved the data into the new device, and I was able to access it.
 
But what I didn't try out was, with the backup data on my old device moved to the new device, would I have been able to retrieve the seed phrase that belongs to that wallet from the wallet security option?

I believe English isn't your native language so it is difficult for me to understand your question, but to restore your wallet, you need either the seed phrase or your private key. If you have the wallet file and the password, you'll also have access to your wallet and you can move it from one device to another. Take note that you should always have a backup of your seed phrase even if you have your wallet file, in the event that you forget your wallet password or you lose the file, you will be able to recover your wallet easily.
If you have your wallet file and you also know the password, then you can always view your seed phrase and other wallet secrets in your wallet file. Your question is hard to understand, but i think this is your query right?

So far the old backup file is on the old hard drive, and if it can be connected to the new computer and the computer can read what is on the old drive, you will be able to use the new laptop to recover your wallet. I think having both backups can be good because one can be the last resort. So far the file backup is encrypted.

You can get the seed phase from your wallet file only if it has been generated by electrum itself.
If you have imported a BIP39 seed phrase in electrum, the wallet file won't contain the seed phrase and there will be no way to export the seed phrase from the wallet. Of course, the wallet file would contain the master private key and that can be used for deriving all the private keys.

Just forget about the wallet 1 or wallet 2. On a new build, you follow what the link given by @OmegaStarScream and what is written there. You just need your seed phrase and that is enough to build the wallet on your new computer.

I have been through the same, hence I can confirm it from my side. Its easy but make sure your script type and derivation paths are correct.

Follow up with any other questions if you have. Otherwise query seems to be solved.

If you have generated your wallet using electrum itself, you can't specify the script type and derivation path when recovering the wallet from seed phrase at all.
Electrum's seeds contain a version number which determines the addresses type and it always generate addresses using a fixed derivation path.

You need to specify the script type and derivation path only if you want to import a BIP39 seed phrase in electrum.

https://i.postimg.cc/QxN4gSFV/1.png

It's just simple way to do, ( you don't need to already the seed phrase) just copy wallet file (default wallet 1) to a flash disk and open computer 2.

open Electrum wallet on computer 2 and create a new wallet, select choose then, choose default Wallet 1 on your flash disk. In this way, you don't need to set data like contact, address, or anything again. You just move that file to another PC.

So if you want to try this, do it offline!

That is the actual wallet file that Electrum is accessing while you're using your wallet.
It contains wallet-specific settings, transaction & address history, labels, contacts, invoices, master (private/public) keys, and others data depending on the wallet type.

After syncing to the Bitcoin network via the server that you're connected to, Yes.

But for other data like labels, contacts and active invoices;
you'll need to copy "wallet_1" file to computer2's 'wallets' folder inside electrum datadir and open it via Electrum's "File->Open" menu.

There's also a "LabelSync" plugin if you want to backup your labels (encrypted) on a server to be restored when you restore your wallet via seed phrase.
Both clients should have the plugin enabled (Tools->Plugins) for it to apply.